Fisker Automotive says it could have a "lower cost" mass-market plug-in hybrid on the market "extremely quickly" with help from the federal government.
Founder Henrik Fisker says the company would use Department of Energy loans to develop the car and possibly refurbish a factory to build it in the United States. "If we get that, we could be in the market extremely quickly," he told a Reuters reporter at the Geneva Motor Show. "If we get the DoE loan we will start the project this year. It could be in the market in as little as 26 months from when we start."
Fisker didn't say how much he's seeking from the government, which has set aside $25 billion to help automakers convert to new vehicle technology. Tesla Motors expects to receive $350 million to start production of its Model S electric sedan in 2011, and the Big Three are among the 75 firms lining up for money.
Fisker Automotive is showing its super-luxe Karma hybrid in Geneva and plans to begin producing the $87,900 sedan in October. The company unveiled a convertible version called the Karma S during the Detroit auto show and says it will be available in 2011.
Henrik Fisker says the company is considering a family-oriented sedan and, eventually, a lower-cost smaller car. The Karma will be built in Finland by Valmet, which builds the Boxster and Cayman for Porsche. Fisker says the firm would assist it in refurbishing a factory to build its next-generation cars in the United States but didn't offer any specifics on when or where such a factory might be built.
Fisker says he's received orders for 1,300 Karma sedans and says his company would be profitable selling 4,000 cars annually. The goal, he says, is to sell 15,000 worldwide each year.
Photo: Fisker Automotive
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